Wednesday, July 2, 2014

I'm a Strange Chemistry Orphan

Bad news. Strange Chemistry was closing down, effective immediately, and would no longer be my publisher. My debut release for THE BODY INSTITUTE would not be January 2015 as planned.

Argh—what??

That wasn't what I wanted to hear, only a little over 5 months away from being published. Finally, after over 10 years of writing and submitting. Finally, after writing more than 14 novels. At last my book was available for preorder on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Powell's--it was so cool! Not to mention I'd started an author page and a book presence on Goodreads. This was NOT a bump in the road I wanted to experience.

But over the bump I went. Kelly and I devised a game plan. I readjusted my mental expectations (no, I probably won't be published before I'm 55). I changed my online bios, tweaked my website, and adjusted my Facebook and Goodreads author pages. Back to square ONE. Ack.

Twitter blazed with wonderful support and sympathy for the Strange Chemistry orphans. So did my friends on Facebook when I posted the news. We orphans banded together via email, commiserating and encouraging each other. We're certainly not the first to whom this has happened, and we won't be the last. Whether a publishing house is small or large, imprints close down on occasion. Merges happen, editors leave, entire houses shut down.

I'm certainly grateful this happened to me this far out, rather than closer to my release date. How horrible it must be for all those debut writers who were closer to their launches. Hugs, everyone.

The past 2 weeks, I've pushed myself to keep writing. Revising another manuscript. Because I won't make any progress on my writing journey if I stop in the middle of the road.

ONWARD!

YOUR TURN
Had you heard the news of Strange Chemistry's closure yet?
Are you unable to write when you're sad or upset, or is it a good distraction?
Do you find it difficult to carry on after major disappointments in your writing journey? (Such as query/manuscript rejections, parting ways with an agent, losing a great critique partner, receiving a brutally honest critique, reading a harsh review.)

I was very sad to hear this and especially about your book. I am so looking forward to buying and reading it at some point soon! I know you'll get there, you're such an awesome writer. I think it is hard to write when I feel down but most of the time it doesn't take long before I'm back at it. :)

I think yours was the case I saw on Twitter--I remember the author's agent was Kelly Sonnack. She's a rock star agent, so you're in good hands. I have a feeling you'll end up with a good home for it and, in the end, you'll realize the line closing was a blessing in disguise.

I'm so sorry, Carol. I know how much you were looking forward to your publication. Well done on pushing forward. I tend to get depressed or distracted when big stuff goes on. I'm trying to push forward after our basement flooded last week. I decided that because I couldn't write in a messy house, I would do some critiquing for a couple good friends. It's been a welcome distraction and keeps me sitting still for an hour or so a day, which is good for my aching back.